Fini, Trimboli’s $8m Freo plan approved

Business partners Adrian Fini and Nic Trimboli’s multi-million-dollar proposal to redevelop a Fremantle heritage asset has been approved by a development panel.

The Metro Inner-South Joint Development Assessment Panel today approved an $8 million plan to restore the Robert Harper building on the corner of Phillimore and Pakenham streets in Fremantle’s West End.

Mr Fini, of Fini Group, and his Little Creatures partner Mr Trimboli propose to rebuild the building façade to reflect its original 1920s design, construct four apartments on new second and third storeys, and amend the existing office space.

The West End is listed on the state’s heritage register and the building itself is listed on the City of Fremantle’s municipal heritage list.

The development proposal was approved by a margin of three votes to two after a two-hour meeting today, with the City of Fremantle councillors on the panel voting against.

JDAP acting presiding member Rachel Chapman said the proposed redevelopment would enhance the Robert Harper building and would have minimal impact on West End’s heritage value.

“It gives opportunity for this building to have a breath of new life,” she said.

“We are seeing this building be retained for future generations as well.”

Mr Fini and Mr Trimboli engaged town planner Urbis and architecture firm spaceagency to compile the development application.

“Those buildings haven’t had love for some time,” Urbis planner Tim Dawkins said at the JDAP meeting.

RP data shows 49 Phillimore Street was acquired for $3.85 million in October 2021.

Despite city officers recommending the proposal for approval, the plan received some opposition from the community.

Fremantle Society president John Dowson said the proposed development would be inconsistent with planning regulations imposed in Fremantle’s West End.

At the meeting, Mr Dowson said under the relevant planning policy, anything new that comes in the West End should not be seen from the street to protect the scale of the area.

“Just because architect is fantastic and the developer is well known … [they] should know better than reaching for the skies and making millions of dollars,” he said.

JDAP acting deputy presiding member Ian Birch said the presentations against the development were mostly about the planning framework, not the proposal.

“I acknowledge the passion and ownership of the people had who presented today, but unfortunately you’re overestimating the authority of this panel,” he said at the meeting.

“This has been through an extensive assessment and not just by the city’s officers but by the DRP [Design Review Panel] and the heritage council.”

The Phillimore Street project is expected to start construction this year for a 2026 completion, according to the development application.

Mr Fini and Mr Trimboli also bought Fremantle's P&O Hotel on 25 High Street, for $5.3 million in May 2023.